Alchemy

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."  - Epictetus

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There's an alchemical process in resurrecting the person you were when you were born, before the world imposed its own ideas about who you are, what you want, what you deserve, and what you should contribute to it. The oversized wooden spoon and fork, always a staple decoration in every Filipino home I'd ever been to, is a symbol of plenty and of blessings, but I have found pretty much every culture and community has expectations for how a person is supposed to fit in and contribute in order to partake of those blessings. It can cause a lot of damage to one's soul, dimming your light and shrinking the power you're meant to bring to the world when you present yourself fully and authentically.